If your business acquires goods or sells goods to the EU, and you have no import/export trade with non-EU countries you probably have no experience of dealing with the raft of red tape involved in clearing goods through customs and settling any duties or VAT payable.

Affected businesses will need to abide by the new regulatory situation from 1 January 2021. Only a matter of weeks from now. They will need to employ someone or appoint a customs agency to undertake the necessary chores.

For most businesses, the latter option may be preferred. The Government has anticipated this need and there is a list of UK customs agents published on the GOV.UK website.

If you transport goods on behalf of EU or UK businesses, back and forth across the English Channel, the regulations your drivers will need to comply with from 1 January 2021 are significant.

Government has again stepped up and provided detailed guidance. You can Google and download a PDF copy of their Transporting goods between the UK and EU in a no-deal Brexit: guidance for hauliers on the GOV.UK website.

The outcome of current trade talks with the EU is still uncertain. However, whatever the outcome of these talks, UK firms involved in the acquisition and/or transport of goods to and from the EU will need to abide by the new regulations imposed as a result of our exit from the European Union.